The World must push for a UN parliament

The United Nations is recognized as the world’s most legitimate, universal international organization. But though it purports to represent “We the peoples,” the organization functions as a forum for bargaining among national governments, with the peoples of the world relegated to the sidelines. As a consequence, reform of the UN system has been very difficult, and progress on the major multilateral issues of our times exceedingly slow.

An alternative forum for international decision-making is the self-appointed G20 group of nations, but its informal ad hoc gatherings have become increasingly expensive and contentious. The G20 generally reflects an elite, rich-country agenda, and largely dismisses broadly based citizen concerns such as the environment, poverty, corruption, and human rights.

A strengthened United Nations where all voices can be heard is therefore imperative. But to be heard, these voices must come not only from government functionaries but also from representatives of people.

If we want accountability, transparency, and effectiveness at the international level, then why not use as a model an institution that has served us so well domestically, and that we consider indispensable: the institution of parliament?

It is not surprising that as the world and its regions have become ever more interconnected, parliamentary institutions above the country level have been created at a furious pace. A 2011 study published by the Committee for a Democratic UN found that before 1990, 40 international parliamentary institutions existed, but since then, an additional 119 have been created.

Perhaps the most well known is the European Parliament, which helps over 492 million Europeans manage their mutual interests. It has evolved from an advisory body to become an elected parliament with co-legislative powers.

Another parliamentary assembly, the Council of Europe, has distinguished itself by investigations into secret detentions by the US Central Intelligence Agency. The Pan African Parliament began its work in March 2004, and a new South American Parliament is up and running. NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Commonwealth, and the Francophonie all have parliamentary chambers.

The idea is to start with an advisory body at the UN that gradually transitions into a world parliament. Article 22 of the UN Charter allows for creation of “subsidiary bodies.”

National parliaments would second MPs to the UN parliamentary assembly in proportion to party standings. Unlike UN ambassadors, UN parliamentarians would not take instruction from national governments, but would be accountable to citizens, and mandated to act according to conscience and the common good.

Around the world as the Arab Spring and Occupy Movement demonstrate, demand for democracy is growing, and the Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly is part of that forward surge. Will Canadian foreign diplomacy take the lead and help democratize global governance, or will we sit idly on the sidelines, watching as the torch passes us by?

Warren Allmand is a former Liberal Cabinet minister and longtime MP. He currently serves as national president of the World Federalist Movement – Canada.